Reading: A Required Skill Inside and Outside the Classroom by Erin

Reading: A Required Skill Inside and Outside the Classroom by Erin - September 2015 Scholarship Essay

Standardized testing causes many controversies in today’s educational environment. There is so much pressure on teachers to instruct specific information so students will perform well on the exams. Students feel the pressure to do well because graduation or promotion to the next grade depends upon passing the tests. The portion of the test I always dreaded was the writing prompt. “You’re walking down the street one day and find a box with a baby dragon in it. What do you do?” I distinctly remember my fourth grade teacher saying “If you’re a reader, you’ll be a good writer.” However, I could never get the minimum score on writing prompts because I couldn’t care less about rescuing dragons or princesses. It wasn’t until fifth grade that we had the following topic for the annual writing prompt: “Describe your favorite hobby and explain why you enjoy it.” The moment I read the topic, the metaphorical light bulb went off in my head. That moment was when I finally realized the one thing I enjoyed outside of school the most was also going to help me more than anything else in school. I was finally on my way to proving my fourth grade teacher’s point about reading and writing; I’ve been enjoying both things ever since.

Growing up, my family was what most people consider poor. Poor monetarily maybe, but I had rich experiences and adventures through my books, my best friends who were always there for me. My house today has an entire room dedicated to my books, too. We will always have an unbreakable bond that is impossible to have with a person. From the time I was three years old, I read. My favorite thing about summer vacation as a child and teenager was unlimited reading time. I distinctly remember opening my notebook to reveal my summer reading list one year on the first day of school. The teacher went around the room asking how many books we read. I answered “Forty-six.” One of my classmates turned around to look me in the eye and said “You are such a loser. You need a life.” I answered back “I have a life. Many lives thanks to my books, actually. Thanks for caring, though.”

Despite not having cable TV and skipping the whole “dial-up” internet era, I learned many lessons through reading that I never would have learned inside the classroom or on Cartoon Network. Although I am still not one for writing fantasy, I am sure I could concoct something if I needed to. Ever since that writing prompt in fifth grade when I had to write about my favorite hobby, writing became easy for me. Writing essays and speeches for school was usually a cinch. I have gotten compliments on my two week notices from several jobs. I have a way with words and it all began with my reading at a young age.

In today’s schools with mainstream classrooms and an emphasis on test scores, there is not time for teachers to read to their students. I always loved listening to novels in elementary school when our teachers would read a chapter a day. Our grandfatherly librarian in my elementary school would gather our class around as he sat in his rocking chair, reading a picture book and sharing the illustrations with us.

Reading anywhere makes me feel like I’m home; no matter how close or far away I actually am from my house. Books taught me things over the long summers when I had nothing better to do, keeping my mind active and ready for the next school year. Reading a lot enhanced my writing and speaking skills and my skills continue to strengthen to this day. I always found comfort and happiness from my books and I hope I always will.